HSE Winter Plan: €600m to be spent to 'protect' hospitals

The HSE has pledged to provide 1,500 extra hospital beds, including 900 acute care beds. Picture: File Picture/Pexels

Some 1,500 additional hospital beds, including 900 acute care beds, and more than 50 critical care beds, are to be announced under the Health Service Executive (HSE) Winter plan, which will be published later today.

Under the plan, the HSE says it will spend an additional €600m on Irish hospitals - €200m this year, and €400m in 2021.